
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Episode 14 Part 2: Breda: A Childhood Stolen - One Women's Story Of Sexual Abuse and Survival
Part two of Breda’s story follows her life after childhood sexual abuse and focuses on her experiences navigating medical care. She describes triggering encounters during hospital stays, physiotherapy and mammograms, and explains why healthcare must become trauma-informed so patients feel respected and safe.
Breda calls for mandatory trauma training for all healthcare staff, better communication and consent around touch, and a system that treats every patient with dignity. She also shares hope, recovery strategies and plans to build a survivor-led resource hub.
RESOURCES:
If you are a survivor or advocate and want to contact Breda her email address is:
Sexual Assault Treatment Unit
Address: South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital, Old Blackrock Road, Cork T12 X23H
Tel: 021-492 6297 (Within Working Hours)
085 8760578 (Outside Working Hours)
Email: Noonan.Margo@sivuh.ie
Website: https://sivuh.ie/
ABOUT THE HOST
Dr. Fiona Barry is a distinguished healthcare practitioner with over 3 decades of experience in both Western / Modern and Eastern / Traditional medicine. Holding a PhD in Pharmacology and a degree in biomedical sciences, she transitioned from cardiovascular research to the more holistic approach of Chinese medicine. She also supports people in their emotional and psychological challenges with the likes of Quantum Thinking Transformation (QTT) and coaching.
Fiona's integrative approach has supported several thousand people individually in navigating challenges in such areas as hormonal health, fertility, trauma and chronic pain, with tremendously positive feedback and results.
Throughout her clinical practice, Dr. Fiona regularly encounters clients burdened by shame and isolation, voicing sentiments like "I've never told anyone that before."
Recognising the profound need for open dialogue, Fiona launched this new podcast series "Taboo", where she aims to create a safe space for the exploration of topics that are often left unspoken, in order to foster connection and understanding on a broader scale. She is committed to amplifying voices and stories that often go unheard.
Fiona is available to work with people in a number of ways, including:
- One-to-one in her clinic or online
- For media and events, including corporate training in health and wellbeing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_fionabarry/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comharacupuncture
Website: https://fionabarry.ie/
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